Sermon for 02 June 2013, Proper 4C

Rev. Paul J Cain

Luke 7:1-10

Worthy

Second Sunday After Pentecost, 02 June 2013, Proper 4C

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Are you worthy? There’s a temptation to fall into an “Aw, shucks, I’m not really…” false humility when asked that question. That’s one ditch along the side of the road. The other ditch is this: “Of course not. I’m not worthy. Even God couldn’t forgive me for all that I’ve done.” We also hear a spiritual problem in that person’s words. Forgiveness is a gift. The second person doesn’t believe that the kind of forgiveness we preach from God’s Word is actually possible. The first person likely doesn’t take what God’s Word says about sin seriously enough.

Dr. Luther quotes from today’s text three times in the English language edition of his Works. Once is in an explanation of and commentary on the medieval Roman Mass. It was and is still common for Christians to recite verses six and seven of Luke Chapter 7 before communing: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But say the word, and let me be healed” (Adapted from ESV). How can we prepare to receive the Sacrament of the Altar today, humbly, in faith, without falling into hypocrisy, apathy, or despair? Let’s meet a faithful, repentant centurion.

After he [Jesus] had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. ² Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. ³ When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴ And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, ⁵ for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” ⁶ And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. ⁷ Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. ⁸ For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” ⁹ When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” ¹⁰ And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

A Roman centurion appeals to Jesus to help a servant of his. Gentiles like typically don’t ask average Jewish rabbis for such assistance. Nor is the centurion merely acting as a military man does. Jesus proves this by saying, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” Jesus commends the faith of a gentile, a sinner, someone very much like us. And how does the account end? They found the servant well. Healed. By Jesus. From a distance. On account of the faith of another, the servant’s master, a Roman centurion who loved the nation of Israel, build Capernaum a synagogue, knew the one true God, and had faith—humble, yet bold faith—that Jesus could do what he asked him to do.

Are you worthy? Are you this worthy? Luther himself struggled with this kind of worthiness. Hear what he writes as a fellow sinner in need of the same grace of God in Christ as us:

[Seventh,] when a man has [this] hunger and so is prepared for the sacrament, he must carefully avoid receiving it while trusting in his own worthiness. Nor must he merely pray, as some do, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but say only a word, and my soul will be healed” [Matt. 8:8]. I am not rejecting that prayer, but one should be aware of something else. I am referring to the words Christ spoke when he instituted the mass: “Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. Take, drink, all of you; for it is the cup of the new and eternal testament in my blood, poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins” [Matt. 26:26–28].

Although the priest utters these words softly during mass (would to God that he would shout them loudly so that all could hear them clearly, and, moreover, in the German language), every Christian should have these words close to himself and put his mind on them above all others. For just as they are meant for us all, so they are spoken by the priest in the stead of Christ to all who stand around him. We should take all of these words to heart, placing our trust in them and not doubting that with these the Lord invites us to be his guests at this abundant meal.^[1]

Is it any wonder then, that the final question in the Catechism’s section on Holy Communion asks a question that provides pastoral comfort? Who, then, receives such Sacrament worthily? Answer: Fasting and bodily preparation are, indeed, fine outward training. But a person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, “Given … and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” But anyone who does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unfit. For the words “for you” require hearts that truly believe.^[2]

Elsewhere, Luther concludes his comments on Luke 7:6-7 as a pre-Communion prayer: For this reason I still insist and warn everyone to give God the honor, and not trust that his sins are forgiven because of his own contrition. No contrition is sufficient in God’s sight. Forgiveness is the result of the sheer mercy of God. He wants us to honor, praise, and love him as one who is gracious to us unworthy and undeserving men. [Beware of this bull and of those who teach such doctrine.]^[3]

Are you worthy? No. Not on your own. And never because of your own prayers, piety, or thoughts, words, or deeds. Only by faith in Christ are you worthy. And faith is God’s work in you by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament. Faith avoids the ditch of apathy, hypocrisy, and the ditch of despair and hopelessness. Yes, only in Christ you are worthy. Why? How?

 About the Cover: Christ died for you; through faith, His promises are for you. But make no mistake—the grace given to you is a grace He extends to all. Yes, even to a hardened Roman soldier, the very image of earthly power, who humbly beseeches his Lord, “I am not worthy” (Luke 7:6). We share in that faith, trusting in the power of our Lord. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

---

^[1] Luther, M. (1999). Vol. 42: Luther's works, vol. 42: Devotional Writings I (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.) (173). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.

^[2] Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions. 2005 (P. T. McCain, Ed.) (343). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

^[3] Luther, M. (1999). Vol. 32: Luther's works, vol. 32: Career of the Reformer II (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.) (48–49). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.

Sermon for 26 May 2013, Trinity Sunday C

The Rev. Paul J Cain

John 8:48-59

One God in Three Persons

Trinity Sunday, First Sunday after Pentecost, 26 May 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

One God in Three Persons. This is the simple truth. Yet, every Trinity Sunday, some explanation is in order.

Trinity. The word isn’t in the Bible.

That is a true fact, but it is not the whole truth. The word may not be, but the concept is. One just can’t say it in one word.

How would you explain one God in three persons and three persons in one God without speaking of Three Gods, demoting Christ and the Holy Spirit, or teaching about a “god” with multiple-personalities? Scripture clearly teaches three in one when Jesus tells us that disciples are made by teaching and by baptizing in the [one] Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

In order to teach this Bible concept, Christians came up with one new summary word: Trinity. Take “Tri” from triangle or tricycle and “unity” and put them together like the Cookie Monster teaches phonics on Sesame Street, and you get “Trinity.”

You learned the Apostles’ Creed from the Small Catechism. It got its name to honor the continued teachings of Christ and His apostles. By the year 325, false teachers had arisen that were not teaching about God from the Scriptures. In order to correct this, Christians composed a creed that said what the Scriptures said about Father, Son and Spirit being one God in three persons. The Nicene Creed was written at Nicaea and Constantinople, sites of two ancient Church Councils or conventions. The third universal or ecumenical creed was named in honor of the great defender of the Trinity, St. Athanasius.

And the creed explains in great detail the very simple point of today’s Holy Gospel: Jesus is God. There are three persons in One God.

The Jews answered [Jesus] him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”

Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”

So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Picking up stones to throw at Jesus never seems like a good idea to me. Why did these Jews do so? They thought Jesus was…well, many things.

A Samaritan. This was a way to really run a guy down. Jews and Samaritans didn’t get along. After the united kingdom of Saul, David, and Solomon split, the conquerors resettled the land with non-Jews who intermarried with the remnant of the so-called 10 lost tribes. They weren’t ever totally lost. The folks down south in Judah claimed they had lost the true religion and pure blood of their ancestors. Good Samaritans were rare, if not non-existent in the eyes of most Jews of the time.

A demon. Yes, this is a common complaint against Jesus. You think people today “demonize” their opponents? This is where that idea comes from. Jesus was possessed or at least taught demonic ideas—or so these Jews thought.

The real problem that Jesus was to these Jews and the official leaders of the day was what they considered to be blasphemy, Jesus saying He was sent from God, spoke for God, was the Son of God, and therefore IS God. Their zeal for protecting God from pretenders ignored the One True God in the flesh in their midst.

We spend our grammar school years learning about words. We learn to read before we read in order to learn. And we learn about verbs. We learn about tenses. We sometimes introduce them to children as past, present, and future. Jesus turns all of those on their head when He simply says: I am.

I am is a loaded phrase, especially in Old Testament Hebrew. I AM is . one name by which God reveals Himself to His ancient people. And this isn’t the first time Jesus has publicly said who He was by saying I “equals sign” God. I am the door. I am the vine. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I AM says, I and the Father are One. And so the people brought out their granite baseballs.

Picking up stones to throw at Jesus never seems like a good idea to me, especially today, but people do. They don’t like the Jesus of the Bible, so they throw a stone. They don’t like hearing their pet sins condemned by Jesus, so they call Him old-fashioned. They don’t like His claim of authority over them and their lives and their actions, so they deny His divinity, His truth, or even His very existence. And before we get too proud, we all realize that even Christians at times do the same thing. It is easy to agree with the Word in public where you have the support of other Christians. It is harder to put the Word in practice when no one else is watching…except God Himself.

We continue to pray for steadfastness in the Word. We pray for those who are persecuted to the death for holding to the Word above all. We pray for those who are imprisoned merely for their confession of Christ. We pray for those who face subtle but real persecution in our land for not “getting with the times,” “going with the flow,” or condoning what “everyone” allegedly does.

It is particularly popular to say that all roads lead to the same God. If a group, teacher, or body of teachings denies the clear self-disclosed message of who Jesus is and what He has done for you, one is not taking Christianity or the Bible at face value. No, the Father of Jesus cannot be the God of Muhammad and Islam. Even Jews who reject their Messiah cannot claim a separate salvation on the basis of the Hebrew Scriptures. Denying the existence of Adam and Eve, the historical nature of Jonah, the Virgin Birth and Jesus’ physical Resurrection are all anti-Christ and cannot be properly believed, promoted, or tolerated in Biblical Christianity.

We conclude where we began: One God in three Persons. Trinity. Tri-unity. One in three and three in one. Simple, Biblical, yet impossibly complex. It is a statement of belief, of faith, not of complete comprehension. Thus Christians throughout the centuries have explained the Trinity.

We have many Bible texts including “in the Name,” “I and the Father are One,” “The Lord our God, the Lord is One,” and many others.

Christians composed the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds.

They composed the Athanasian Creed.

Shortly after the Nicene Creed was first confessed, St. Patrick taught the Trinity to the Irish using a hymn he wrote and the famous shamrock.

And while the words may be new, the teachings are the same, old Bible truth: One God in three persons. Amen.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sermon for 19 May 2013, Pentecost Day C

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

St. John 14:23-31

Peace I Leave with You

The Day of Pentecost, 19 May 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, spoke the words recorded in chapters 13 through 18 of the Gospel according to St. John. John 17 was a perfect reading for the Seventh Sunday of Easter last Sunday. Listen to the Words of Comfort the Lord has for you in the verses leading up to our appointed reading for today.

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

Words of Gospel comfort abound in these opening verses of John 14. Questions from Thomas and Philip are answered patiently and pastorally, yet with some surprise that mere hours before His arrest these disciples still don’t comprehend the big picture by faith.

Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Judas the son of James asks Jesus more about the hidden reality that He has been describing. This question is answered in our appointed Holy Gospel, verses 23-31.

Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

The fuller answer is coming. One who loves Christ will keep Christ’s Word. Such a one who loves Christ does not reject parts of the Old Testament here or New Testament there. Jesus’ Word is not one that we can go and edit with a word processor or a pair of scissors. It is a comprehensive whole. Both Deuteronomy and Revelation speak of the dangers of adding to or taking away from the prophecy of God’s Word. Societal pressures and personal preference are not valid reasons to deny or not keep Jesus’ teaching. They are not merely the words of a man. They belong to the Father who sent the Son.

One cultural example of a dangerous adding to and taking away from the Word is the notorious novel, The Da Vinci Code. Not only is it blasphemous in its treatment of Christ, but there are factual errors too numerous to mention in even a one-hour sermon! For more details, please see me.

The Father loves the ones who obey the Word. Such obedience does not earn forgiveness of sins or heaven, but the Father loves such loving obedience as if it were faith’s thank you note for what has already been given in Christ.

Jesus says, “We will come to him and make our home with him.” Jesus speaks of the promised Holy Spirit, mentioned by name in the next section. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to convict each one of us of our sins through the law, and deliver the blessings of the Gospel. Have you felt guilty? Are you feeling guilty? Are there things you’d rather not hear about from the Word of God? Is the Spirit convicting you of your favorite, private, secret sins? Have you been confronted about something you don’t consider to be sinful? The Holy Spirit is doing His job. Repent and believe the Gospel! Leave behind your former ways of disobedience and sin.

"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

How could men record the Words of God? This passage deals with that common objection to the faith. Yes, the Bible had human authors, but they were all inspired by the Holy Spirit to record what they did. God knew the historical situation, vocabulary, writing style, and language of each man. The Bible has many human authors, but over them all there is one Divine Author, God Himself. The Spirit was sent to teach and remind. The apostles, prophets, and evangelists were inspired to record what God had given.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Could the comfort of the Gospel be any clearer? He wants to give you peace unlike any so-called peace that they world can give. Peace treaties can be temporary. World peace is elusive. It’s not going to happen! In the last days there will be wars and rumors of wars. The peace Jesus leaves with you is peace with the Lord. That heavenly peace breaks into human history on Jesus’ Cross and vicarious sacrifice. That peace with God translates into peace between those with whom God has made peace. You are to be at peace with one another and love one another. That is how Christians are to be known. And not by backbiting, gossip, plotting behind another’s back, abuse, neglect, uninformed speculation, or even little snide comments that often ARE overheard.

Jesus gives you peace with God. You have the promise of life eternal, an end to the war humanity has fought with God since the Battle of Eden. Jesus signed the peace treaty with His own blood. That is His testament for you, your inheritance of peace. Therefore, make peace with all around you. Share the peace of Christ. Be of one accord in Christ. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.”

Let us rejoice! The Son has gone to the Father to prepare a place for us! Alleluia! He is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! He has told us many things before they take place so that you would not be deceived. The one sent from heaven returned to heaven at His ascension, yet He abides with you until the end of the age. He will never leave you nor forsake you. You have His peace with you and His comforting presence for you.

One of the most moving passages in English literature comes toward the end of Charles Dickens's Tale of Two Cities, a story of the French revolution. Each day, a grim procession of prisoners made its way on the streets of Paris to the guillotine. One prisoner, Sidney Carton, a brave man who had once lost his soul but had now found it again, was now giving his life for his friend. Beside him there was a young girl. They had met before in the prison, and the girl had noticed the man's gentleness and courage. She said to him, "If I may ride with you, will you let me hold your hand? I am not afraid, but I am little and weak, and it will give me more courage."

So they rode together, her hand in his; and when they reached the place of execution, there was no fear in her eyes. She looked up into the quiet composed face of her companion and said, "I think you were sent to me by heaven."

In all the dark valleys of life, the God of all comfort, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, is at our side. (Citation: Owen Bourgaize; Guernsey, United Kingdom)

What wondrous love is this!

About the Cover: The Day of Pentecost celebrates the gift of the Helper, the Holy Spirit. Jesus teaches in John 14 that the Holy Spirit is sent to teach the disciples all things and to bring to their remembrance everything He said to them. That promise was fulfilled when the Spirit inspired the apostles to write their Gospels and Epistles and is fulfilled today when we hear or read the apostolic writings from the Scriptures and by the Spirit’s help understand them to be all about Jesus.

The Peace of the Lord be with you always. Amen.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sermon for 12 May 2013, Seventh Sunday of Easter C

Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Revelation 22:12-21

Come, Lord Jesus

Seventh Sunday of Easter, 12 May 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  Amen.

            Christ has died. Christ is risen! Christ will come again! Today our Epistle text focuses our attention on the Second Coming of Jesus. Ordinarily, we reserve such thoughts about the end of the world for November, for the last three Sundays of the church year. But just as we know that Jesus’ return will be sudden, unexpected, like a thief, one never knows when the teaching of Jesus’ return will show up in the lectionary—this time it is the Seventh Sunday of Easter.

12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.  13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

I will give to everyone according to what he has done. Just reading this verse alone would make one think that citizenship in heaven is according to works, what we have done. That would be taking this verse out of context. We must look at what has gone before. Verse seven of this chapter reads, Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book. That’s the doing Jesus has in mind. Only someone in faith could do so—keep the prophecy in this book. Verse 11b: let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.

Knowing the rest of Scripture helps us avoid misinterpretation, since it never contradicts itself. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9. Verse 10 is important: For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Works earn us nothing, but faith does them just like your lungs breathe. They just do. Faith is always in action doing good works. Works are the fruit of faith. Those without faith cannot do good works, by definition.

The following verses explain more about the gifts of faith and righteousness—gifts, not earned by works. No one earns a true gift.

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.  15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Have you despaired of your own righteousness? Have you given up trying to become perfect in this life? Have you finally stopped trying to earn God’s favor? Most importantly, have you washed your robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb? (Chapter 7) These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The Lamb gives His righteousness and He gives His reward to those whom He has already given His righteousness. Jesus loves to give us His
Gifts.  But some will not have any of it—those Scripture calls “dogs”, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. They reject Him, they reject His Gifts, they persecute and try to deceive those who follow the Lord. These people will be rewarded with judgment. They are outside of salvation, outside of New Jerusalem, doomed to hell, to be tormented day and night like Satan, forever and ever. They are punished for their sin.

Our sin has been forgiven. We are rewarded according to what Jesus has done for us, and for wearing His righteousness by faith—even our faith is a Gift!

In some churches this day, verse 15 is missing. Some churches are unwilling to call homosexuality, sexual immorality, “living together” outside of marriage and falsehood by its true name, sin. Accordingly, verse fifteen is missing. They’ve literally cut it out of their reading of the Epistle lesson today. It’s not read, not mentioned, not discussed. A Word of the Lord is ignored. How tragic! 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Dogs are what Deuteronomy 23:19 calls male homosexual prostitutes. Not only that, this term was also a metaphor for an evil human enemy. Psalm 22:16,20

“Those who practice magic arts” could also be rendered, “sorcerers.” This would include all practitioners of occultic arts, whether so-called “good” or “bad” magick. There is no such thing as a good magick. I’m not talking about visual slight-of-hand, but that which has as its source, Satan. Even in the childrens’ novels, the so-called good guys who use white magick are still using magick, and are therefore calling upon the power of Satan, not God. Sorcerer’s Stones are not of God.

In his exposition of the Second Commandment Luther teaches us, We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.

In 1 Corinthians 10:18-22, St. Paul warns us, Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. All these persons and practices are dangerous to faith. These we are to avoid.

Instead, cling to these words: 14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.  Cling tightly by faith to your Savior and His gift to you, your Robe, His righteousness, won for you when He defeated sin, death, and Satan. Satan is defeated. Don’t let him get a foothold. Hang on to Jesus!

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” 

            Our Lord leaves us with no doubt about who is giving us these words, recorded by St. John. Jesus refers to Himself by name. The name Jesus is used fourteen times in Revelation, but only here does the Christ refer to Himself by name.

            Jesus also uses other titles, tying together the Old and New Testaments. He is both David’s son, descendant, and David’s Lord, The Lord! He is the promised royal offspring of King David. Now, He reigns as the eternal King—His rule shall never end.

            Jesus is the bright morning star, the brightest in the heavens, the light of the world that no darkness can overcome. He is the Lamp and Lamb. The city does not need the sun or the moon for the glory of God gives it light. Jesus is the light!

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 

            Salvation is a free thirst-quenching gift that fills the empty, dark place inside each of us. Not by works. We are given faith as a gift. Faith is our baseball glove that receives all the rest of the Gifts of God, by faith. Righteousness, life, salvation, forgiveness—all are free gifts, the water of life.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.  19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

            This is a serious warning. Specifically, this admonition concerns the book of Revelation itself. We aren’t to sugar-coat the law here and call what is good, bad, and call what is bad, good. In other words, don’t leave out verse fifteen! We are called to embrace all that is here in Revelation, and not reject a word. In a larger sense, since the book of Revelation is the culmination of Divine Revelation in the Holy Scriptures, we are not to mess with the text of Scripture. The Bible, in its entirety, is the holy, inspired, inerrant Word of God. Just because we don’t like something does not give us the authority to change God’s Word. It is humbling to submit ourselves to the authority of another. That is what Christians do when it comes to the Word. If we deny it, we deny God. When we embrace it by faith, we have all of the blessings it contains.

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

One of the most common table prayers we use is “Come, Lord Jesus…” In this prayer, we invite Jesus as a guest into our hearts, homes, and to our meal. Common food is set aside, sanctified, made holy unto the Lord. Our prayer recognizes the meal as another gift of God. It presupposes that the food eaten by those around the table will provide health and energy to them so they may continue their service to the Lord.

A second verse, common here at Immanuel and coming from the Slovak Lutheran tradition reads: “And may there be a goodly share on every table everywhere.” It is a prayer of mercy, of generosity, acknowledging our bounty and that there will always be others in need. It’s an evangelistic petition. Those who pray it ask God to shower the same blessings we have on others, especially the gift of the Gospel message. “Come, Lord Jesus!” is the cry of all the faithful as we wait for the Day of the Lord—a day when we don’t have to invite Jesus to come into our homes, but the day we will come into His. In the meantime, let us continue to thank God for His many gifts and employ them in His service.

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

            The Lord Jesus has promised to be with us to the end of the age. We are God’s people in this place. We rejoice that the grace of God has come to us and abided with us in His forgiveness. That is what will carry us through to the end, not any strength in or from ourselves. We pray that the Lord’s grace would help us resist Satan, sexual immorality, idolatry, and falsehood. We are confident that God’s grace rests upon us as, next Sunday, we partake of His Body and His Blood. We know with certainty that it is by grace we are saved, through faith, not by works so that none can boast. Let us pray that our Lord will come soon and that the days of darkness would come to an end. Let us pray, Thy Kingdom come.

About the Cover: It seems like a child’s fairy tale—all the good things promised to us at our Lord’s return. But we know that far from a fairy tale, they are a divine promise. That day, Christ will shine upon this earth, and in Him we will reign forever. Thus the Church teaches all her children to long for this day and to pray without ceasing, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.